Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
I had a lump in my throat, but I swallowed my pride and I raised my hand. Cautiously, I stood up in front of an audience of strangers and soon felt my face flush red. This made me uneasy, but at the same time I felt a surge of energy within. There was still time to back out. I looked around at a group of adults drinking their wine with their eyes fixed on me. What was I doing here? I barely spoke Italian. Then I glanced at my friend and I saw her smiling reassuringly back at me.
I started to read the first few lines of my poem.
I spoke about how I felt when learning a new language. I was an extrovert without words.
I stumbled over some phrases. After I got through several lines it got easier and I felt more confident. People were listening attentively. No one laughed. When I finished reading, people even smiled and clapped. I dedicated the poem to my friend and I could tell it moved her.
After three months of living in Italy, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and present at an event called Open Mic Night. The event was a special night where people could share stories and poems, music, art, or any creative talent. Something adventurous compelled me to write to the restaurant owner and tell her that I would share a poem next week at the event. I had never done anything like it before, especially in front of a group of strangers.
I had been taking Italian classes for a few months but I knew very little, and my grammar wasn’t very good. At times, I felt like learning another language was overwhelming, but there was a rose among the thorns. Fortunately, I had met a new Italian friend and she had made the process of adapting to a new country much more enjoyable. She inspired me to write a poem in Italian about our adventures together.
It was a challenging task, since I was still learning the language and I wanted to write meaningful and profound thoughts. Also, it had been nearly a decade since I had written any poetry. When I finished writing it, I felt empowered. After I wrote it, I struggled to pronounce many words and I had to take extra time to practice, since I planned to share it aloud at the event.
When I got to the event, several people shared songs and played instruments. I was feeling a bit shy, since I didn’t know anyone at the bar. Even though I enjoy teaching and being in front of a class, I am not one to share my personal thoughts in front of a group of people I don’t know. I waited until most of the volunteers had presented, and then I decided to share.
That day I made several mistakes in a new language in a new country, but I also took a big risk in front of a group of strangers and I didn’t fail. In fact, I even bumped into a few attendees months later that told me they remembered my poem. I was able to share a piece of my heart in Italian, and I won’t ever forget it.